Filled-bag-closing machine



March 17, 1931. c. s. THOMPSON FILLED BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16.1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1931. C. s THOMPSON 1,796,494

FILLED BAG CLOSING MACHINE F'Ied Nov. 16, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 (3J 0 L?4 J g 4f @i e L? f l y p |uw"" :hD o o 2y J3 y o o L40 a olaf March 17,1931. CY S. THQMPSQN 1,796,494

' A FILLED BAG` CLOSING MACHINE Filed Nov, 16. 1928 6 SheetSSheeI 5March 17, 1931. C 5 THOMPSON 1,796,494

FILLED BAG CLOSTNG MACHINE Filed Nov4 16. 192 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 171931- c. s. 'rHoMPsoN 1,796,494

FTI'LT) BAG GIIQSNG MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 192 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 17.1931- C. S. THOMPSON FILLED BAG CLOS] NG MACHTNI.)

Filed NCWv 1, 192

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE*` y cHAnLEs's.THOMPSON, or rAnx man, ILLINOIS, AssIoNon A"lo UNION SPECIAL MACHINECOMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOI ILLINOIS FILLEDBAGCLOSINGMACHINE Application ned November 16,1928. serial NQ. 319,792.

The invention relates to' new and useful improvements in a filled bagclosing machine, and more particularly to a machine for clos ing largebags containing heavy material.

An Object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above typewhich includes a unit conveyor attached to the frame of the lilledbagclosing machine, but supported independently thereof, and driven fromactuating mechanism forming a part vof the closin machine.

A irther Object of the invention is to provide a machine of the abovetype wherein the conveyor is capable of a limlted vertical` adjustment,and w erein the closing machine includes a sewing head mounted on asupporting column so as to overhang the conveyor, which sewing head isalso shiftable on the column to various set positions for 2' adaptingthe machine for bags of different heights. Y

A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a machine of theabove type-,

head is mounted on the wherein the sewin f'column by the an? ofshiftablc supporting bars extendinvr on opposite sides of the co1- umnand capalble o a wide ran of adjustment so that the machine maysupported well out from the Column and properly set for stitchingrelatively lar e bags.

A still further object el?F the invention is to provide a machlne of theabove type wherein the sewing head is mounted on a sleeve shiftable onthe column, and a counterbalance is provided for counterbalancing theweight of the machine and sleeve so as to facilitate the verticaladjustment of thel sleeve, and wherein the sleeve is adjusted by ahand-operated mechanism which includes a brake for supporting themachine in any position to which it may be shifted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine, of theabove type wherein the sewing mechanism is driven from a transmittermounted on the frame of the machine, and the driving mechanism includesmeans whereby the sewing head may lowered without disturbing t e drivingconnection for the sewing mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is be raised and `to vprovideamachine of the above type wherein the driving motor is mounted at oneend of the main supporting frame of the machine, and a counter-shaftat-the other end, which is actuated by the motor, and wherein thetransmitter is located intermediate the motor and the counter-shaft sothat the transmitter may be driven from said countershaft, and whereinthe counter-shaft may also be used to operate through a train ofgearing, the conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of theabove type with a treadle controlled means for controllin the clutchesbetween the counter-shaft an the conveyor, and also between thecountershaft and the transmitter, whereby the conveyor may be operatedalone, or the conveyor and sewing head maybe simultaneously in frontelevation from the front of the machine with the sewing head and theconveyor unit removed. l

Fig. 3 is a front view of the lower portion of the machine showing apart of the conveyor unit. i

Fig. 4 is an end View of the machine with the conveyor unit removed.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in plan and partly in section showing a portionof the actuating Ifnechanism and the control mechanism there- Fig. 6 isa view partl in section and partly in front elevation o the wmainactuating parts and thecontrol therefor:

The invention is Vdirected to aiilled ba@r closing machine which isespecially designe?. for closing large bags containing heavy materials.The machine includes a main frame on which the sewing head supportingmeans is mounted in such a way that the sewing head overhangs the sideof the main frame and beneath this sewing head is a conveying mechanismwhich is in unit form so that it may be attached to or detached from themain frame. Gn this main frame is a motor` and mechanism actuatedthereby for operating the sewing head and for driving the conveyor. Themain frame consists of a comparatively narrow base portion at one end ofwhich is mounted a motor and at the other end a cross shaft driven bysuitable connection from the motor. Intermediate the motor and the crossshaft is a column at the upper end of which the sewing head is mounted.On this column is a bracket which is capable of vertical adjustmentthereon and for actuating the sewing head.

shafts at the end of the conveyor.

the sewing head is attached to a supporting plate carried by rodsmounted on the bracket so that it may beadjusted in an endwise directionon the rods' for shifting the position of the sewing head toward andfrom the column. Within the colmun is a counterwei ht connected by asuitable device with the bracket so as to counterbalance the weight ofthe bracket. This device connected to the counterweight passes around apulley mounted on a shaft in such a way that the device turns with thepulley and does not slip thereon. The shaft is provided with a handwheel whereby it may be rotated so asl to raise and lower the head, anda suitable braking device is provided for holding the shaft in variousset positions. Suitable means is also provided for preventing thebracket from rotating on the column as it is raised and lowered.

Mounted on the column is a supporting bracket for a transmitter. Thetransmitter is actuated by a belt connection with the cross shaft. Thistransmitter drives a beltJ This belt runs over idlers which are sodisposed that the weight may be adjusted without disturbing the drivingconnection of the belt. The transmitter is treadle controlled. There isa clutch mechanism between the cross shaft and the motor which is alsocontrolled from the same treadle and these parts are preferably soarranged that the cross shaft may be connected to the motor withoutconnecting the transmitter to the cross shaft and by a further movementof the treadle the transmitter may be connected to the cross shaft. Infront of the main supporting frame is a unit conveyor consisting of anendless supporting means on which the bags are placed and conveyed toand by the stitching mechanism. rShe endless support trav-- els oversuitable sprocket wheels carried by These shafts are mounted in theframe of the unit conveyor and the frame is supported on suitabledevices so that it may be raised and lowered 'to properly position thesame relative to the main frame. The frame of the unit conveyor isbolted to the main frame.

On the end of one of these shafts driving the conveyor is a sprocketwheel which is connected by a sprocket chain to a sprocket on anauxiliary cross shaft connected by a reducing gearing to the mainactuated cross shaft. This sprocket chain connection permits theconveyor to be raised and lowered to a limited extent. Means is providedfor adjusting the position of the driving shafts for the conveyor in thesupporting rame.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the filled bag closing machineincludes a main supporting frame which is provided with a supportingbase 1. This supporting base is relatively narrow so that the base maybe mounted on suitable devices for transportation and be readily movedthrough ordinary doorways from one department to another. Mounted at oneend of this base is a motor 2 carrying a belt wheel 3. Mounted insuitable bearings at the other end of the supportin base is a main crossshaft e. As shown in *ig 5, this main cross shaft a has a frictionpulley 5` keyed thereto and loosely mounted on the cross shaft is thedriving pulley 6. A belt 7 runs over this driving pulley 6 and the beltpulley 3 of the motor. A suitable guard 8 is provided for covering thebelt. This belt pulley 6 is carried by a. sleeve which is capable ofendwise movement of the shaft 4.

The belt pulley is movedendwise into engagement with the friction pulley5., and

thus it is that the cross shaft is connected up to the motor. The sleevecarrying the belt pulley 6 is moved endwise'by a rock lever 9. This rocklever 9 is shifted by means of a link 10 connected to an arm l1 carriedby a control cross shaft 12. This control cross sha-ft is mounted insuitable bearings 13 carried by the supporting base 1 of the machine.The shaft terminates at the front side of the main frame and is provided with a depending arm 1a which is connected to a link 15 extendinglongitudinally of the supporting base. This link is moved endwise by 'amechanism which will be dcscribed later, for the purpose of imparting aslight oscillation to the control cross shaft 12. When the shaft isturned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, it will more therock lever 9 so as to release the clutch pulleys, and when turned in theopposite direction it will move the rock lever 9 so as to bring theclutch pulleys into engagement.

Also mounted on a bracket 1G carried by the supporting base 1 is a lever17 which is connected by nier-.ns of a link 113 to en air-in 19irojecting upvfardly from the control cross shaft 12. The other end ofthe lever 17 is provided with a brake shoe Q0 which is adapted te engagethe driven friction pulley when itis released from thevdriving beltpulley 6.

Rising from the supporting base 1 is a supporting column 21. Thissupporting column 21 is located between the motor and the main crossshaft 4. Adjacent the upper end 'of the column 21 is a sleeve bracket22. This sleeve bracket 22 is in the form of a split sleeve' connectedby .suitable bolts 23, 23 whereby the sleeve may be properly adjustedfor free movement on the column.'` 4

Mounted on opposite sides of the sleeve bracket 22 are lugs 24, 24 inwhich are rigidly secured supporting rods 25, one in each lug,

and these rods are clamped lirmly in the lugs by set screws 26. Mountedat the outer end of these rods 25, 25 is a supporting plate 27 to whichthe sewing head 28 is bolted. The supporting plate is provided withlaterally projecting lugs 29, 29, and these lugs are mountedrespectively on the rods 25, 25. lA hand operated set screw 30 isprovided for each lug29 so that the supporting ,plate for the sewinghead 'may be firmly clamped to the rods. This supporting plate isadjustable endwise on the rods and thus it is that the sewing head maybe shifted toward and from the column.

The sewing head includes a needle bar 31 disposed in a horizontalposition and reciprocated by suitable means operated from a mainactuating .shaft provided with a belt pulley 32. The/parts of the sewinghead are of the usual construction, and detailed del scription thereofis not thought necessary.

Mounted on the cross shaft is a pulley 35. The column is hollow andlocated within the column is a counterbalancing weight 36. A cable 37 isattached to this vcounterbalancing weight and is given a complete turnabout the pulley 35 and the other end of this cable is attached to anarm 38 formed integral vwith the sleeve bracket 22. On the end of theshaft 34 is a hand wheel 39. Mounted on the shaft 34 adjacent the innerbracket 33 is a drum 40. Two brake straps 41, 41 engage the sides of thedrum. These brake straps are attached to a pin 42 carried by the innersupporting bracket for the shaft 34. Thus it is that the brake strapsare held from rotation with the shaft.

A threaded ro'd passes through the free ends of the brake straps and anut 43 on the end thereof is adapted to press these brake straps againstthe drum on the shaft 34 and this provides a brake which will hold theshaft from movement except when the hand wheel is grasped and turned soas to overcome the frictional Igrip of the brake straps. This provides ameans whereby the shaft 34 may be turned `by hand thus turning thepulley 35 so as to raise and lower the sleeve bracket carrying thesewing head and the brake shoes will firmly hold the shaft from`movement in any position to which it may be set.

The above means enables the sewing head to be quickly raised and loweredon the supporting column and properly set for stitchiner the bag whichis conveyed thereto.

Mounted on this column 21 intermediate its ends is a second sleevebracket 44. This sleeve bracket 44 carries a power transmitter 45 of theusual construction. transmitter is provided with a belt wheel 46. A belt47 running over this belt wheel also runs over a belt wheel 48 fixed tothe cross shaft 4. A guard 49 is'provided for covering the belt 47. Thistransmitter is provided with a driven belt wheel 50. A belt 51 runs overthis belt wheel 50. Mounted on the sleeve bracket 22 is a pair of idlers52 and the belt 51 runs over one of these idlers, thence over the beltwheel 32, and thence .over one of a pair of idlers 53 and over an idler54 carried by a bracket 55 at the upper end' of the column 21. Thisprovides a means whereby the sleeve bracket 22 carrying the sewing headmay be raised and lowered without, in any way, disturbing the drivingconnections for the sewing head.

Vhen the cross shaft 4 is connected up to the motorthrough the operationof the control cross shaft above described, the driving belt wheel ofthe transmitter will be set into operation. This, however, does not setinto operation the driven belt wheel of the trans- .mitten This iscontrolled by a suitable lever 56 (see Fig. 4).

The lever 56 at its outer end is connected to a link 57 and the link .57at its lower end is connected to an arm through the lever 9 and a springsurrounding this link lies between a collar fixed to t-he link 10 andthe end of the lever 9. When there is a pull on the link 10 it moves thebelt wheel into frictional driving contact 'with the pulley attached tothe cross shaft and after these parts have been brought into engagementthere is'a limited range of movement for the link 10, the spring whichis indicated at'10a being compressed at this time.

Likewise, the link 57 may have a limited movement after the transmitterclutch parts are connected. By adjusting these movements the controldevices may be set so that when the control shaft is turned by theoperator, the cross shaft 4 will first be connected to the motor anddriven thereby. When this cross shaft is connected up to the motor, thenthe driving belt wheel of the transmitter is set into operation. AfurtherV The power `cross struts 64.

movement of the control cross shaft will connect the driven wheel of thetransmitter with the driving wheel thereof and thus set into operationthe sewing head.

The conveyor unit consists of an endless conveyor of the usual type. Asshown, it includes a series of slatted members carried by sprocketchains. These slatted members are fixed to the chains and project beyondthe chains where they are provided with suitable supporting devices 6ladapted to run along the upper frame member 62 of the conveyor, whilethey are conveying the filled bag. There is a lower frame member 63 andthese frame members are connected by There is a connectin bracket 65 ateach end of these upper an lower frame members and in each bracket 65 ismounted a shaft 66. The shafts are mounted in bearings 67 and at one endat least of this conveyor the bearings are capable of adjustment 1n thesupporting brackets therefor and are held in adjusted position byadjustable bolts 68a. 0n each cross shaft there is a pair of sprocketwheels 68, 68. The chains carrying the slatted members run over thesesprocket wheels 68. The upper and lower frame members with theirconnected parts and parts supported thereby are adjustably mounted onshort standards 69, 69 so that the frame for the conveyor and theconveyor may be raised and lowered to a limited extent. These standardsare provided with slots 70through which clampin bolts 7l pass., and thisis what affords the means for the vertical adjustment of the conveyorunit. This conveyor unit may be at tached to the main frame of theclosing machine and this is accomplished by means of brackets 72, 72which are bolted to the base l of the frame, as clearly shown in Fig.

2. Each bracket is provided with a slot 7 3 and bolts 7 -ftpassingthrough suitable plates connectingr the upper and lower framemembers are attached to these brackets 72. The slots permit of theraising and lowering of the conveyor unit to a limited extent as hasbeen described.

The shaft 66 at the left as viewed in Fig. is extended so as to projectwithin the main frame of the machine and on the end of this shaft is a'sprocket wheel 75. A sprocket chain 76 runs over this sprocket wheel andover a sprocket wheel 77 carried by an auxiliary cross shaft 78. Mountedon this auxiliary cross shaft is a gear wheel 79 (see Fig. l)

` which meshes with a gear wheel 8O carried by an intermediate crossshaft 81. A gear 82 on this intermediate cross shaft meshes with a gear83 on the shaft 4. rThese gears are so proportioned that the auxiliarycross shaft 78 is driven at a less speed than the cross shaft 4. Thus itis that the cross shaft l when set in to operation will actuate throughthis sprocket chain 76 the conveyor.

By roviding a sprocket drive between the auxi iary cross shaft 78 andthe conveyor, the conveyor may be raised and lowered to a limited extentand there is no danger of the driving parts getting out of properactuating alignment.

Mounted in the frame of the conveyor unit is an auxiliary control crossshaft 84. This cross shaft is provided with a depending arm to which thelink l5 is connected. On the outer end of this auxiliary control crossshaft 84 is a horizontal arm 85. This horizontal arm is provided with afoot pad 86. The main control cross shaft 12 is provided with aprojecting arm 87 on which a weight 88 is mounted. The weight tends torotate the shaft 12 in a clockwise direction and thus release all theclutches. When the foot pad is released the control shafts will beturned through this wei ht so as to release the clutches. This raisesthe pad and when the pad is depressed the cross shafts will be turned soas to bring about first a connecting of the belt wheel 6 to thefriction'al driving wheel 5 and this sets into operation the cross shaft4. lVhen the cross shaft l is set into operation it will operate throughthe train of reduction gearing' the conveyor at a reduced speed and itwill also set into operation the driven wheel of the transmitter. Afurther depression of the control treadle will connect the clutch partsof the transmitter and set into operation the sewing head,

From the above it will be apparent lthat there has been provided afilled bag closing machine which may be used for closing large bagscontaining heavy materials. The conveyor unit is very rigidlyconstructed and is of considerable length so that the filled bags may beplaced thereon and conveyed to and past the sewing mechanism. Theslatted arrangement of the conveyor running over su ports therefor whileconveying the bag will carry the heavy bag without sagging as it ispresented to the stitching mechanism. The sewing head is mounted on acolumn so that it will overhang this conveying unit when attached to themain frame of the closing machine and the sewing head may be shiftedtoward and from the column so as to be properly positioned laterally ofthe movement of the bag and it may also he raised and lowered so as tobe positioned at the proper height. The hand means for raising andlowering the sewing head may be stopped in any position andthesewinghead will be firmly supported for operation without requir`- ingany locking means for holding the parts in the position to which theyhave been shifted. By providing rods on which the plate carrying thesewing head is mounted there is a wide range of adjustment of themachine toward and from the main supporting frame. The motor is locatedat one end of the main supporting frame and the cross shaft from whichthe sewing unit and conveyor units are operated is mounted'at the otherend of the frame. The supporting column is located between the motor andthis frame and as a result these parts may be positioned so that theframe as a whole is comparatively narrow.

This together with the fact that the conveyor unit may be detached fromthe main supporting frame enables the machine to be readily shiftedthrough comparatively nar.

row doorways from one part of a plant to another. The conveyor unit isdriven by a train of gears proportioned so as to reduce the speed andthis provides a very positive eiicient drive for the conveyor. Thisdriving mechanism also permits the conveyor to be supportedindependently of the closing machine frame although it is attachedthereto for holding the unit and the closing machine in proper assembledposition. The conveyor unit is independently supported to a large extentand this removes the strain of carrying the heavy filled bags from themain frame of the machine; The control for the actuating parts is verysimple and of few parts and one treadle is used for setting intooperation the conveyor, bringing the bag to the sewing position, afterwhich by further depression of the treadle the sewing head is operatedfor closing the bag.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and thearrangement of i the parts may be made without departing I claim as newand desire to secure by Let- 1. A filled bag closing machine including amain supporting frame, a unit conveyor extending alongside of saidframe, means for independently supporting said conveyor, ac-

tuating means mounted on the frame for driving the conveyor, asupporting column carried by the frame, a sewing head mounted on thecolumn and overhanging the frame, means for raising and lowering thesewingl head on said column, actuating means carrie by the frame fordriving the sewing head, said means for raising and lowering the headincluding a sleeve movable up and down on said column, spaced barsextending along the opposite sides of the sleeve, and a supporting plateadjustably carried at the outer end of said bars on which said sewinghead' is mounted.

2. A lled bag closing machine includingr in combination, a mainsupporting frame, a unit conveyor extending alongside of said frame,means for independently supporting said conveyor, means for connectingthe con'- veyor to the supporting frame, actuating means carried by thesupporting frame for operating the conveyor, a sewing head overhangingsaid conveyor, means for supporting said sewing head whereby the samemay raised and lowered, a transmitter mounted on said sup orting frame,means carried by the frame .or actuating the transmitter, a drivingmechanism operated by said transmitter for actuating the sewing head,said driving mechanism lncluding devices whereby said head may beraisedxand lowered Without disturbing the driving mechanism.

3. A filled bag closing machine including in combination, a mainsupportin frame, a unit conveyor extending alongsi e of said frame,means for independently supporting said conveyor, means for connectingthe conveyor to the supporting frame, a motor mounted on said supportingframe, a counter-shaft carried by said supporting frame and actuated bythe motor, a train of reduction gearing actuated by said counter-shaftfor operating said conveyor, a sewing head, means for supporting saidsewing head so as to overhang said conveyor, a transmitter mounted onthe supporting frame. and actuated from said counter-shaft, drivingmeans for actuating the sewing head from said transmitter, said sewinghead being shiftable vertically relative to the conveyor, and saiddriving means including devices whereby the sewing head may be shiftedwithout disturbing the driving means.

4. A filled bag closing machine including in combination, ay mainsupporting frame, a. unit conveyor extending alongside of said frame,means for independently sup orting said conveyor, means for connecting tie conveyor to the supporting" frame, a motor mounted on said supportingframe, a counter-shaft carried by said supporting frame, and actuated bythe motor, a train oi reduction gearing actuated by said counter-shaftJfor operating said conveyor, a sewing head, means for supporting saidsewing head so as to overhang said conveyor, a transmitter mounted onthe supporting frame and actuated from said counter-shaft, driving'meansfor actuating the sewing head from said transmitter, said driving meansincluding devices whereby the sewing head may be shifted withoutdisturbing said driving means, and a single treadle controlled means forconnecting the driving train of mechanism from the conveyor to thecounter-shaft, and for connecting said actuating means for-thetransmitter to the counter-shaft.

5. A iilled bag closing machine including in combination a mainsupporting frame, a unit conveyor for conveying filled bags alongside ofsaid frame, said conveyor including a supporting frame structure, anendless conveyor mounted on said frame structure, means for supportingsaid frame structure of the conveyor independently of the mainsupporting frame of the closing machine, means for detachably connectingsaid frame structure of the conveyor to said main supporting frame, asewing head mounted on the frame and overhanging the conveyor, andactuating devices mounted on the main frame for actuating said sewinghead and for actuating said endless conveyor.

6. A filled bag closing machine including in combination a mainsupporting frame, a unit conveyor for conveyingfilled bags along- 10side of said frame, said conveyor including a supporting framestructure, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame structure, meansfor supporting said frame structure of the conveyor independently of themain support ing frame of the closing machine, means for detachablyconnecting said frame structure of the conveyor to said main supportingframe, a sewing head mounted on the frame and overhanging the conveyor,actuating de- 0 vices mounted on the main frame for actuatf in saidsewing head and for actuating said en less conveyor, and a single4treadle controlled means for connecting the conveyor to the drivingmeans and for connecting the sewin head to said driving means.

7. filled bag closing machine including inccombination a main supportingframe, a unit conveyor for conveying filled bags along side of saidframe, said conveyor including a 3o supporting frame structure, anendless conveyor mounted on said frame structure, means for supportingsaid frame structure of the conveyor independently of the mainsupporting frame of the closing machine, means for detachably connectingsaid frame strucy ture of the conveyor` to said main supporting frame, asewing head mounted on the frame and overhanging the conveyor, a motormounted on said main supporting frame, a

counter-shaft carried by the main frame and actuated by the motor,devices actuated from the counter-shaft for operating the conveyor,devices actuated from the counter-shaft for actuating the sewing head,and a single treadle controlled means for connecting the sewing head tothe counter-sh aft and the conveyor to the counter-shaft.

8. A filled bag closing machine including in combination a mainsupporting frame, a

column carried by said frame, a sewing head mounted on the column andoverhanging the frame, means for raising and lowering the sewing head onsaid column, actuated means carried by the frame for driving the sewinghead, said means for raising and lowering the head including a sleevemovable up and down on said column, spaced bars extending along oppositesides of the sleeve, anda support- .ing plate adj ustably carried at theouter ends of said bars on which the sewing head is mounted.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CHARLES S. THOMPSON.

